Sound Power Sensitivity Analysis and Design Optimization Using BEM

A general numerical formulation based on the Boundary Element Method (BEM) for computing radiated sound power sensitivity is presented in this paper. The total radiated sound power is computed using surface acoustic pressure and velocity information. Explicit analytical differentiation of the sound power with respect to acoustic normal velocities is performed on the boundary integral equations to obtain sound power sensitivity information. The formulation is applicable to structures with arbitrary geometries, free edges, openings, and multiple connections. Acoustic absorption materials applied on the structure surface can also be modeled as impedance boundary conditions. The developed formulation is validated and its application is demonstrated.